Automatic apparatus for accumulating fibers delivered by continuously operating carding machinery



Nov. 27, 1956 H. c. M. H. DUESBERG 2,771,641

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS POR AOOUMULATING FIBERs DELIVERED BY coNTINUOusLYOPERATING cARDING MACHINERY www, M M

NOW 27, 1956 H. c. M. H. DUEsBERG 2,771,641

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR ACCUMULATING FIBERS DELIVERED BY CONTINUOUSLYOPERATING CARDING MACHINERY Flled Jan 25 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27,1956 H. c. M. H. DUESBERG 2,771,541

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR ACCUMULATING FIBERS DELlVERED BY CONTINUOUSLYOPERATING CARDING MACHINERY Filed Jan. 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 UnitedStates Patent AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FR ACCUMULATING FIBERS DELIVERED BYCONTINUOUSLY OP- ERATDIG CARDING MACHINERY Hubert Charles Marie HenriDuesberg, Heusy, Belgium Application Ilv'anuary 23, 1951, Serial No.207,393 Claims priority, application Belgium December 5, 1950 6 Claims.(Cl. 19--161) The present invention relates -to carding machinerycomprising semi-automatic sets of cards, and more particularly tomachinery of this charac-ter where devices are provided -for theaccumulation of the web in layers upon an endless conveyor belt, ytheweb produced by the carding engines having first been passed through asuitable machine for effecting the removal of any foreign bodies fromthe web, the last named machine comprising at least two superposedpressing rolls.

The thin fleece or web of fibers produced by the carding engines isordinarily accumulated upon a continuously moving endless cloth orconveyor bel-t to which it clings. The first layer of fibers adheresdirectly to the rough outer surface of `the endless cloth or conveyorbelt and successive layers of fibers adhere to underlying previouslydeposited layers until there is accumulated upon the conveyor belt anendless wad of carded fibers of suicient weight per unit length to besuitable for further processing, such as spinning.

The removal of this endless wad of carded fibers requires that theconveyor `belt be stopped and that the wad be severed by an attendant.The wad is then removed from the belt thus preparing the bel-t -for theaccumulation of a new wad. It is presently common practice during thisfrequent and necessary in-terval of stoppage of the conveyor belt alsoto stop the feed and delivery rollers and intermedia-te doifers of thecarding engine together with other portions of the carding machinerysuch as pressing cylinders which precede the endless conveyor belt.

Various mechanical problems arise from these repeated stoppages, whichstoppages ordinarily take place at the rate of four or ve times an hour.

The disadvantages of this type of semi-automatic operation involve thefollowing points:

l(a) irregularities in carding caused by the starting and stopping ofthe carding engines and the pressing cylinders.

(b) The inertia of the feed and delivery rollers and other parts -of themachinery. This inertia must be overcome at each starting and stoppingof the machinery.

(c) The accumulation of material between the drums and the combersduring the stoppage of the combers.

(d) The additional burden imposed upon the drive motors by a duty cyclewhich involves frequent starting and stopping.

The present invention has among its objects, to overe0 come thesedisadvantages by permitting the carding engines to continue theiroperation without interruption during the intervals when the endlessconveyor belt upon which the web of fibers is deposited is stopped forthe removal of the endless wad of accumulated layers of carded web.

A lfurther object of the invention is to avoid severing or division ofthe web, either between the comb and the endless conveyor belt, or if aPeralta is used, which device removes foreign bodies from the carded webby means of superposed pressing cylinders, then between the Peralta andthe endless conveyor belt. Any breakage of 'ice 2 the Iweb of thischaracter requires the intervention of a scribbler or other `attendantto replace the broken web of fleece upon the endless conveyor belt.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter in which the endless belt is stopped automati-cally after apredetermined amount of travel. Such predetermined amount of travelcorresponds to a depositing on the conveyor belt of a predeterminednumber of layers of carded web, which in turn corresponds to a lxedweight of web, assuming that the carding and the depositing of the web4both take place at a constant rate.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter in which the tleece or web of fibers is prevented fromdepositing on the endless conveyor belt while it is stopped, means beingprovided to return the web to the feeding portion of the loader or toany other convenient portion of the machine where it may accumulate insuch a manner as to avoid any interruption of the continuous operationof the carding engines during the temporary stoppage of the conveyorbelt.

Mechanical devices may be used to return the Web during the stoppage ofthe conveyor belt, but preferably, according to one embodiment of theinvention, pneumatic means comprising a blower are provided forreturning the web for re-'use during the time when the conveyor belt isstopped.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which a measuring device or meter is responsive to therunning of the conveyor belt and after this has traveled through anadjusta'bly predetermined distance, will start the operation of a motordriven fan or blower. The blower produces air pressure for operation ofthe pneumatic web return means including a suction effect at its inletside which is utilized for effecting the return of the web to thecarding engines for re-use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device `of thischaracter in which an audible or other preliminary warning signal isgiven to the machine attendant shortly before the conveyor belt isautomatically stopped.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of means Iforstarting the blower motor prior to the stoppage of the conveyor belt sothat the desired air pressure differential is available at the instantthat the beltl stops without the delay Vwhich would otherwise beinvolved if the blower motor were not started until stoppage of thebelt. In this connection, a pneumatic control valve is provided whichconnects the blower intake to the web aspirating or suc-tion devicesimultaneously with the stoppage ofthe endless conveyor belt.

Still another object of the invention is to provide manually operablecont-rol means for starting and stopping the conveyor belt independentlyof the measuring device.

Other and further objects will become apparent upon reading thefollowing speciiication together with the accompanying drawing Aforminga part hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an ernbodiment of theinvention applied to a complete carding machine.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the measuring deviceand the automatic control means which are actuated by the measuringdevice for stopping the conveyor.

Figure 2A is a diagrammatic view of a detail of the measuring andcontrol portion of the machine.

Figure 2B is a view similar to Fig. 2A shown on an enlarged scale andpartly in section.

Figure 2C is a sectional view taken along the line 2C-2C of Fig. 2B,looking in the direction' of the arrows.

Figure 3, is a planview correspondingl to Fig. 2,

Figure 3A is an enlarged plan view of a detail.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of the pneumatic web return system.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary View of a portion, of Fig. 2, showing a fixedprojecting rod in end View with a latch member in a position which itoccupies while the machine is running, the latch member being disengagedfrom a notch in which it may be received.

Figure 5A is similar to Fig. 5, showing the rod in side view.

Figure 5BV is similar to Fig. 5, showing the latch member engaged in thenotch in which it is retained while the machine is stopped,

Figure 5C is similar to Fig. 5B, showing the rod in s ideview.y

Figure 6 is. an enlarged-.elevational view similarto Fig. 5 illustratingadditional parts of the clutch control mechamsm.

Fig. 7 isa plan view, partly in section, of the mechanisrn shown inAFig. 6.

Figure 8. is an electrical circuit diagram showing the control ofv astoppage warning signal anda blower motor.

Referring to Fig. l, there is shown in a fragmentary and diagrammaticmanner a carding engine comprising a main-'cylinder a, The carded fibersfrom the carding engine are fed continuously along a path indicated by adotted line to a. continuously operating cleaner b of thePeraltatypewhich comprises superpo-sed pressing rollsv c and d.' Thethin fieece or web of carded fibers, after, havingvbeenrcleanedby thePeralta cleaner b passes over a supporting roller e to a delivery apronB illustratively shown as a continuously moving endless conveyor belt.An endless conveyor belt or cloth A is normally in continuous movement,being driven by a drive roller connected toa gear 4t) which normallyturns in a clockwise direction. At the left hand end of conveyor belt Athe belt A passes around an idler roller 37 which likewise normallyrotates in a clockwise direction. The endless belt A follows a zig-zagpath over a series of large idler rollers 37a and small idler rollers37b. During its passage around'idler rollers 37a and 37b', the outersurface of belt A is directed toward the smaller idler rollers 37b.

As it passes upwardly and toward the right around idler roller 37, theconveyor belt A underlies the extreme right hand end of delivery apronB.' The thin fleece of carded fibers drops by gravity from the deliveryapron B upon the conveyor belt A at the fixed position where it ismoving upwardly and to the right around idler cylinder 37; The outersurface of conveyor belt A has an adherentftexture such that the thinfleece of carded fibers delivered by the delivery apron B Willinherently cling thereto and be carried valong therewith. After theendless conveyor belt/A has made one complete passage beneath the righthand end of delivery apron Bv the thin Web-of fleece will'be depositedon a previously deposited layer of web, and because of the texture of`tlie carded fibers will naturally adhere to the underlying layer. Thisadherence-is enhanced by engagement ofthe outermost layer of fibers withthe series of smaller idler rollers 37b in the course of-travel of theconveyor beltA through' the zig-zag path shown in Fig. 1.

The outer surface of delivery apron B is of such texture that the 'eecyweb of carded fibers has little or no tendency to adhere thereto inorder that it may either be delivered to the endless conveyor belt A orbe returned by suction means for re-use as hereinafter described. Thesuccessive superposed layers of eecy web which accumulate on theconveyor belt A form an endless wad of carded fibers which progressivelybecomes heavier per unit of its length in the course of repeatedcomplete passages of the endless conveyor belt A past the delivery apronB. After this wad has attained the desired weight per unit length tomake it suitable for further processing, the conveyor belt A isautomatically stopped, the wad of fibers isthen i severed and removed,and the belt is thereafter started again for the accumulation of a newWad of fibers.

The direction of travel of the conveyor belt A is normally in thedirection caused by clockwise rotation of drive roller gear 40. However,this normal direction of rotation may reverse whenever desired, by meansof reversing gearing H which is provided for convenience in manipulationof the belt A at times when no web is being deposited thereon.

The stoppage of the conveyor belt A is preceded by the preliminaryactuation` of the control armv 1 of a switch 2 comprising contacts 2a(Fig. S) which control the energization of a bell S via conductors 3.The switch 2 also controls the operation of a blower motor SZa-whichdrives a suction fan or blower 52 as hereinafter described.

The measuring device F, which controls the stoppage of conveyor belt Acomprises a worm wheel 4 fixed to a shaft 5 and driven by a worm 6 fixedto a shaft 7.` A friction' wheel 8 is slidably splined on shaft 7 forrotationv therewith,v Friction wheel 8 is axially movable along shaft',7 for engagement with a friction disc 9 at an adiustable; radialposition thereon providing a variable ratio speed, changing device.Friction disc 9 is provided with gear teeth: which mesh with a pinion 10fixed to a shaft 11'. A; sprocket; wheel 12 fixed on shaft 11 isconnected to a further sprocket wheel disposed on a shaft 13 by means`of achain'14, the shaft 13 forming a part of the reversing gearing H.

.The position of friction wheel 8 may be varied by meansk of arrack 15(Fig. 3) meshing with a pinion 16 fixed to. ashaft 1,7. Shaft 17 may berotated by means of a hand-` wheel 18 fixed thereto in order to changethe speed ratio of the friction drive-8 4! and, accordingly, the amountof; travel of conveyor belt A before the conveyor b'elt A` isautomatically stopped. The amount of travel of conveyor belt A isdeterminative of the number of layers of. fieece which will be depositedthereupon at the time of' stoppage, and hence also determinative of theweight of the wadtof accumulated fibers to be removed from the; conveyorbelt.

Thewormwheel 4 always operates through one corn-- plete; revolutionirrespective of the speed ratio set by handwheel-18. The shaft 5, drivenby worm wheel 4, has afnotched cam 19 adjustably fixed thereto which isengageable with a shoulder 20a near the free end ofv lever- 20.A Thenotched cam 19 may be angularly adjusted on shaft S to bring the notch19a to a predetermined desired position with reference to arcalibratedscale 4a (Fig 2B) marked ,on the hubportion 4b of worm wheel 4. Suchvadjustment permits the relative positions of the notch 19a andshoulderZliavnear the free end of leverl 20 to be adjusted. This adjustmentvaries the preliminary orwarnf ingatimepinterval.bywhich the ringing ofbell S (Fig. `8) andthe-starting of blower motor 52a precede*`thegstop-V pagebfbelt-A.. In. making this adjustment, aset screw19b-.(Figs. 2B,and 2C)A is temporarily loosened, andthecarrn19fturnedby, hand on shaft 5. When cam 19 has been .set in. theldesired position of adjustment, set screw 19h is` again tightened sothat the adjustment will be maintained during the subsequent operationof the apparatus. i

The lever 20 is pivotally connected to the free end of the-actuating,arm 1 of switch 2. After shoulder 20a has engaged. :in: notch 19a of cam19, ,continued rotationgof cam 19.will cause .actuation of switch 2therebygstarting theblower motor 52a and causingbell Sto ring-as notedabove.

Disposedl outside the cover 21 of the measuring-device F is a disc Z2fixed to shaft 5 and provided withv a slotyi (Fig: 2) extendingradiallyinwardly from the periphery thereofl Disc 22 controls the stoppage ofthe conveyor belt :A. WhenY disc, 22 is brought into the positionfforstoppage of conveyorbelt A; a camrfollower-ZA is in alignment with-.slot23 and moves to the left into slot23, asvievvedl ingFig. 2.y A' controlrod ZS-moyes withhcarn follower 24. Control rod 25 is pivoted at 26 to'an L- shaped lever 27 which is pivotally connected at 28 to a clutchcontrol fork member 29. Fork member 29 is pivoted to the machine frameat 30. The forked end of member 29 is disposed in a groove 31 locatedbetween two ribs 32 of a sleeve portion 33 of the driven male portion 34of a cone clutch. Male portion 34 of the cone clutch is engageable withand disengageable from the female driving portion 35 of the cone clutch,the driven male portion being freely revolubly and slidably mounted on acontinuously revolving power driven shaft 36, the female driving portion35 of the cone clutch being fixed to shaft 36. Conveyor cylinder 37 isfreely revolubly mounted on the power driven shaft 36 and acts as anidler roller.

The male portion 34 of the cone clutch is normally pressed into drivingengagement with the female portion 35 by a helical compression spring38. Male portion 34 of the cone clutch is provided with gear teeth 39which mesh with other gear teeth in the reversing gearing H to drive agear 40 in a direction determined by the reversing gearing H. Gear 40 isfixed with respect to drive cylinder 41 which drives the endlessconveyor belt A, and hence the belt A is driven by the male clutchmember 34 through the gearing 39-H-40.

A continuously revolving eccentric cam 42 is fixed to shaft 36 andcauses continuous oscillation of a clutch disengaging member 43 pivotedto the machine frame at 30 along with the clutch control fork member 29.One end of continuously oscillating member 43 cornes into proximity withfork member 29 once during each revolution of cam 42, but does not touchthe fork member 29. When, however, the lever 27 is moved by the droppingof cam follower 24 into the slot 23 of disc 22, a portion of lever 27 isinterposed between the end of oscillating member 43 and the fork member29 causing fork member 29 to be revolved on its pivot 3B by oscillatingmember 43 to withdraw the male portion 34 of the cone clutch from itsnormal spring pressed engagement with the female portion 35. A latchmember 47 carried by L- shaped lever 27, thereupon drops into a notch47a (Figs. and 5A) in a fixed projecting rod 48 as shown in Figs. 5B and5C and holds the fork lever 29 in its clutch disengaging position. Thisstops the further driving of the conveyor belt A through the cone clutchuntil the conveyor belt A is started again as described below.

To effect the return of the fleece while the conveyor belt A is stopped,a suction funnel 50 is provided as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Funnel 50 isconnected by a duct 51 with the intake side of a blower 52, and from theexhaust side of blower 52 another duct 53 extends to the loader 54 (Fig.l).

Disposed in conduit 51 intermediate funnel 50 and blower 52 is athree-way valve comprising a body 55 in which a rotary valve member 56is disposed. Valve body 55 is provided with through openings 57 and alateral opening 59. The valve is actuated by a roller 60 which engagesthe clutch control fork member 29 and the roller 60 is carried at oneend of a lever 61 pivoted on a shaft 62 journaled in a fixed bearing 63.The opposite end of lever 61 terminates in an arcuate gear rack 64 whichmeshes with a sector gear 65 which drives rotary valve member 56.

While the endless conveyor belt A is in operation, the rotary valvemember 56 is positioned to connect the intake of blower 52 to draw airfrom the room through the lateral valve opening 59. Thus, when theblower 52 starts operation shortly prior to the stoppage of the belt A,reduced pressure is available for sucking back the fleece, this reducedpressure being established in relatively close proximity to the suctionfunnel 50. When clutch forlf` member 29 is actuated to stop the conveyorbelt A as described above, roller 60 is moved to rotate lever 61 aboutits pivot 62 and through the meshing 65 rotate valve member 56 toconnect the intake of blower 52 with the suction funnel 50, the stoppageof conveyor belt A and the beginning of full suction action at funnel 50being substantially simultaneous. It should be noted that the design andconstruction of valve body 55 and rotary valve member 56 is such as tominimize the catching of fibers in the returning fleece passing throughthe air duct 51.

When the conveyor belt A is started, with the fork lever 29 in clutchengaging position, a counterweight 67 draws arcuate rack 64 downwardlyto rotate valve member 65 to draw air from the room through lateralopening 59, thus suppressing suction of the fleece.

The conveyor belt A is started in operation by means of a hand actuatedcontrol rod 70 suspended by links 71 and provided with a handle '72, thelinks 71 being secured to fixed pivots 73, control rod 70 being pivotedto L-shaped lever 27 at 26 together with control rod 25.

Pulling on handle 72 draws L-shaped lever 27 upwardly and forces controlrod 25 to the right, thereby removing cam follower 24 from slot 23. Aslot closer 74 actuated by gravity then closes slot 23 to prevent camfollower 24 from immediately reentering slot 23. Slot closer 74 may berestored in any convenient manner, not shown.

Pulling on handle 72 raises latch member 47 and allows spring 3S toreengage the cone clutch 34-35 thus starting the belt A, and also allowscounterweight 67 on valve actuating arm 61 to rotate valve member 56 andstop the suction returning the fleece to the loader. The meter F is thenready to proceed through another complete revolution of worm wh-eel 4and disc 22, after which the conveyor belt A may again be stopped.

The conveyor belt A may be stopped at will by pressing on handle 72. Camfollower 24 (Fig. 3A) moves with control rod 25 through the action of acompression spring 75 mounted on a rod 76 freely movable through anaperture in the laterally turned end portion 77 of control rod 25. Thuspressure on handle 72 allows movement of L-shaped lever 27 to causestoppage of the conveyor belt A even though cam follower 24 may notenter the slot 23 in disc 22 by the compressibility of spring 76.

In operation, the carding machinery comprising carding cylinder a, thecleaner b and the delivery apron B is continuously supplying a thinfleecy web of carded fibers to the endless conveyor belt A. Before thebelt A is started, clutch 34-35 is disengaged and blower 52 sucks up thecontinuously supplied fleecy web from delivery apron B just before itwould otherwise be delivered to the conveyor belt A, the web beingpicked up by suction nozzle 50 and returned through valve D and duct 53to the loader 54.

Handle 72 is pulled manually to start the belt A by causing engagementof clutch 154-35. This also causes operation of valve D to shut off thesuction at nozzle 50. The fleecy web then passes from delivery apron Bto the endless belt A clinging directly to its adherent surface untilthe belt has made one complete passage past delivery apron B whereafterthe web adheres to the previously deposited underlying layer, the thinfleecy web accumulating in successively deposited superposed layersuntil the resulting endless wad of fibers has the desired weight perunit length as determined by the measuring device F. Shortly prior andpreliminary to the actuation of measuring device F to stop the continuedmovement of belt A, the adjustable cam 19 moves lever 20 toward theright as viewed in Fig. 2A thus moving arm 1 to actuate switch 2.Actuation of switch 2 energizes blower motor 52a and starts theoperation of blower 52 in anticipation of the impending stoppage ofconveyor belt A. Actuation of switch 2 also cnergizes bell S to warn theattendant that the conveyor belt A is about to stop and that theaccumulated wad of fibers must shortly be removed.

Soon after the preliminary actuation of switch 2, cam

.follower -24 drops into the radial slot 23 of circular .cam 22 which.is mounted on the single `revolution shaft .t of measuring device F.Thereupon lever 25 moves leftwardly as viewed in Pig. 2 causingcounterclockwise rotation of L-shaped lever 27 about its pivot 28. Aportion of L-shaped lever 27 adjacent to locking member 47 then becomesinterposed between the .outer free end of continuously oscillating lever43 and the forked clutch lever 29. As a result, on its next movement ina clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the free end of continuouslyoscillating power operated lever 43 presses on the outer side ofL-shaped lever 27 and thereby forces both the L-shaped lever 27 and theforked clutch lever 29 to rotate together in a clockwise directionagainst the thrust of spring 38. This rotation immediately disengageslthe clutch .S4-35 stopping the further movement of conveyor belt Auntil it isl started again after removal of the accumulated Wad of bersby pulling on handle 72. The belt A may of course be stopped at any timeby pushing handle 72 so that levers 25 and 70 move leftwardly togetheragainst the yielding pressure of the cam follower compression spring 75.

Although I have herein shown and described only one embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A device of the class described for receiving and accumulating a thinileecy web of carded iibers produced by .continuously operating cardingmachinery, and forming said web into an endless wad of predeterminedweight per unit of its length, said device comprising: a movable endlessconveyor belt having an adherent surface to which said web of bers willcling for receiving and retaining s'aid web thereon; delivery means forreceiving said web from said carding machinery and depositing said webon said adherent .sur-face; controllable driving means for causingcontinued movement of said belt past said delivery means, repeatedpassages of said belt past said delivery means causing said web toaccumulate thereon in superposed layers with the outer layers clingingto each other; control means for starting and stopping the operation ofsaid driving means; means connected to said control means for star-tingthe openation of said driving means; controllable pneumatically operatedreturn means extending between said delivery means and said cardingmachinery for returning said web from said delivery means to saidcarding machinery for re-use; measuring means operative in accordancewith a predetermined amount of continued movement of said belt past saiddelivery means,

said continued movement corresponding to the accumulation kon `saidibeltfof a l predetermined number lof superposed -layer-s'of said web-to form said wad, said measurling means being connected to said controlmeans to cause stoppageof saidjbelt movement and connected to saidcontro-liable return means to `cause return of said web during said beltstoppage.

2. A device according -to claim l, further comprising, preliminarycontrol means included in said measuring means and operative prior tosaid belt stoppage, controllable power operated air pressure producingmeans connected to 4said return means for said pneumatic operationthereoll said air pressure producing means being connected to saidpreliminary control means to be started in operation prior to said beltstoppage, and a pneumatic control valve connected in sa-id return meansto cont-rol the operation thereof and connected for control by saidmeasuring means to start operation of said return means substantial-lysimultaneously with said belt stoppage.

3. A device according to claim 2 in which saidpreliminary ,control meanscomprises electrical circuit control -means and wherein said airpressure producing means is driven by an electric motor, said motorbeing connected for kcontrol by said circuit control means,

4. A device according to claim 2 fur-ther comprising adjustable meansincluded in said preliminary control means for varying the intervalbetween the operation of said preliminary control means and said beltstoppage.

5. A device accord-ing to claim 2 further comprising warning signalmeanscontrolled by said preliminary con- -trol means for advising anattendant of an impending stoppage ot said belt.

6. A device according -toclaim 1, wherein said measuring means comprisesa revoluble member which initiates said belt stoppage and adjustablevariable speed ratio means driven with said belt by said driving meansand connected tocause rotation of said revoluble member, whereby saidpredetermined number of layers may be varied by adjustment of saidvariable speed ratio means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,132,878 Pilling Mar. 23, 1915 1,667,177 Trout Apr. 24, 1928 1,683,812Walsh Sept. 11, 1928 1,980,841 Wuest Nov. 13, 1934 2,075,156 Albero Mar.30, 1937 2,376,661 Clark May 22, 1945 2,441,390 Boeddinghaus May 1l,1948 2,683,901 Griswold July 20, 1954

